Morton Doubtful, but He’ll Try Today

It looks like another week of watching pregame warmups to see if injured tailback Chad Morton might try to play.

He remains doubtful for a second consecutive game after not practicing all week because of a bruised back. Coach Paul Hackett is assuming Morton won’t play.

Morton did some running for the first time during USC’s walk-through Friday, but he didn’t participate in team drills. He will continue receiving treatment and plans to be on the field with the team before today’s game to test his back.

In any case, either Petros Papadakis or freshman Frank Strong will start, depending on the situation when USC gets the ball for the first time.

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Hackett has plenty of ties to Cal.

His late father was a biochemistry professor there, and Hackett was an assistant coach there from 1972-75.

Hackett was an assistant with the San Francisco 49ers when Cal Coach Tom Holmoe was a special teams player and defensive back for the 49ers, and Hackett was the Dallas Cowboys’ offensive coordinator when Cal offensive coordinator Doug Cosbie was a Cowboy receiver.

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Cal receiver Dameane Douglas is this week’s challenge for the secondary. He has 27 receptions, and no other Cal player has more than eight.

“He’s a big, physical receiver and obviously their go-to guy,” USC cornerback Daylon McCutcheon said.

“Whoever lines up against him better get ready. Chances are, the ball’s coming to him.”

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Among the preliminaries on campus to the football game is another Trojan-Golden Bear battle: No. 1 USC hosts No. 4 Cal in water polo at 1 p.m.

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HOW THEY COMPARE

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USC Cal 29.4 Scoring 13.5 19.4 Pts. allowed 15.0 174.0 Passing 187.3 133.4 Rushing 68.5 307.4 Total offense 255.8 171.8 Passing defense 149.8 148.4 Rushing defense 180.3 320.2 Total defense 330.0

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